MOSCOW: Belarus has accused Poland of resorting to aggressive measures, including firing warning shots, using tear gas, and physical force, to repel migrants attempting to cross into the European Union (EU) through their volatile border.
The latest allegations have further strained already frosty relations between Minsk and Warsaw, aggravated by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko’s decision to allow Russia to use Belarus as a base for its military operations against Ukraine—a move staunchly opposed by Poland.
In a statement, the Belarusian border service contended that Polish border guards routinely engaged in “violence and abuse” when turning away refugees. The reported tactics include the use of tear gas and physical force. Additionally, Belarus accused Polish law enforcement of forcibly taking foreigners to the border fence with Belarus and expelling them through an animal wicket, all while brandishing firearms and firing warning shots over the heads of refugees.
Belarus Terms Use of Firearms Extremely Dangerous
Belarus has characterized the use of firearms as “extremely dangerous” and has expressed concerns that such actions could ignite a border conflict with severe consequences.
Earlier this month, Belarus claimed that a Polish aircraft had breached its airspace, leading to the summoning of the Polish charge d’affaires to address the incident. Poland swiftly refuted these allegations, denouncing them as “lies.”
Poland, a NATO member and a steadfast ally of Ukraine, has voiced apprehension over the relocation of Russian mercenaries to Belarus following their failed insurrection attempt in June. These developments have added another layer of complexity to the already strained relations in the region, with both Belarus and Poland playing pivotal roles in the ongoing geopolitical dynamics of Eastern Europe.
